bity. He had heard also, from time to time, news of your
public actions that increased his esteem. He was informed--pardon me
if I mention it--of your sincere and honourable affection for his
niece; and, indeed, hoped, I may say--"

"No more on that point, if you please."

"Sir, I am silent, and ask your pardon."

"But--but--Doctor, this is simply astounding. Do you hear what this
gentleman says?--that I--I alone--am Tristram's guardian after all?"

Mr. Finch and Dr. Beckerleg exchanged an anxious look. The Doctor
cleared his throat and took up the story.

"No, my dear Captain, I regret that you make one mistake. You said
'alone.'"

"What? Is there another trustee?"

"There is the man already mentioned--Roderick Salt."

"Tut, tut--he's dead."

"I fear, on the contrary, that he's alive."

"But he was drowned, confound him!"

"Some meddling Netherlander, cursed with too much humanity, must have
baulked the will of Heaven by dragging him out of the ditch and
reviving him. He was rescued, sir, and clapped into prison; escaped
by turning traitor and entering the service of the Prince of Orange--
in what capacity I dare not say, but likely enough as a spy, or
perhaps a kidnapper of soldiers. There are plenty of the trade along
the frontiers just now. He has changed his name, but has been
recognised by more than one Harwich man at The Hague, and again at
Cuxhaven. For a year now I have heard nothing of him. Belike he is
off upon a dirty mission to some German principality no bigger than
your back-garden; ambassadors of his size are as easy to find on the
Continent of Europe as a needle in a bottle of hay. Or maybe he
wanders on some gaming campaign of his own."

The face of Captain Runacles, as the Doctor proceeded, went through
three rapid changes of colour--white, scarlet and purple.

"You knew all this?" he shouted, the congested veins standing out
upon his temples; "you knew all this, and kept us in the dark?"

"I did. It affected the child in no way. The fellow clearly knew
nothing, or cared nothing, about Tristram. Even supposing--which was
absurd--that he would wish to burden himself with the boy, I felt
pretty sure of Barker's ability to cope with him at the briefest
notice. Moreover, considering his mode of life, I hoped by waiting a
very short while to be able to tell you that Captain Salt's career
was ended by the halter. You see, he was evidently not born to be
drowned, and I drew